Seasonal Songs of Solidarity

When my mother left for the United States, her sister Nordia let her take their songbook with her so she could remember their time together at the local church choir.  It was a collection of church hymns, folk songs, liberation music and Christmas carols.  They were involved with various ministries and really enjoyed singing these songs.  There was a lot of substance within the lyrics.  To this day my mother has saved the little songbook.  It is a little treasured relic.  In light of the holiday season, I wanted to share this Nicaraguan Christmas carol that is so much more profound than any Santa Claus jingle we offer in the United States.  Below are the original Spanish lyrics followed by the translation.

My mother and aunt's original songbook

Navidad en Libertad

Carlos Mejía Godoy

Cuando desempaques tus regalos

niño de lujosa vecindad

piensa en tantos niños que no saben

para qué es la navidad

piensa en el chavalo limpiabotas

que su nochebuena pasará

en una banqueta dura y fría

del atrio de Catedral

Feliz Navidad

feliz Navidad

en Justicia y Libertad

feliz Navidad

un mundo mejor

sin miseria ni opresion

Esa metralleta de juguete

que te trajo este año Santa Claus

es el aguinaldo cariñoso

que te manda el Tío Sam

Hoy necesitamos más escuelas

mas cultura y más educación

son más importantes cien maestros

que un blindado batallón

Feliz Navidad...

Tiene que venir pronto ese día

cuando no sea la Navidad

sólo el privilegio de los ricos

sino de la Humanidad

Que venga Venancio, Pedro y Mincho

la Maruca, Lencho y Pantaleón

vamos a cantar el Villancico

de nuestra Liberación.

Feliz Navidad....

Hablado: Feliz Libertad te deseo, Pueblo mío.  Feliz Libertad niño de Acahualinca y Miralagos.  Feliz Libertad niño mutilado del Vietnam.  Feliz libertad niño huérfano de Nagasaki.  Feliz Libertad, negrito murruco del Congo.  A todos los niños del Tercer Mundo…Feliz Libertad.

Translation:

Christmas in Liberty

When unpacking your gifts

luxurious neighborhood boy

think of the many children who do not know

what is Christmas for.

Think of the shoeshine boy

That will spend Christmas Eve

On the cold hard sidewalk of the

Cathedral atrium

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

in Justice and Freedom

Merry Christmas

a better world

without misery nor oppression

That machine gun toy

that Santa Claus brought you this year 

is the affectionate bonus

sent from Uncle Sam

Today we need more schools

more culture and more education

One hundred teachers are more important

that an armored battalion

Merry Christmas ...

Soon the day must come

When Christmas is not

only the privilege of the rich

but of Humanity

Come Venancio, Peter and Mincho,

Maruca, Lencho and Pantaleon,

We will sing the carol

of our Liberation.

Merry Christmas ....

Spoken: I wish you, Happy Freedom, my people. Happy Freedom, child of Acahualinca and Miralagos. Happy Freedom, maimed child of Vietnam. Happy freedom, orphan of Nagasaki. Happy Freedom, dark curly-haired child of the Congo. To all the children in the Third World ...Happy Freedom.